Reflections on the SPSCon Plenary Workshop
The SPS crew from SUNY New Paltz, including reporters Shoshana Shapiro (left) and Jaden Hubbard (second from right), commemorates SPSCon.
Photo courtesy of the SPS reporters.
Near the end of the first day of SPSCon, hundreds of undergrads filed into a ballroom for a plenary workshop. We were told to sit at tables based on zones, and our group ended up sitting with a group of students from Yale University.
We expected our experiences as physics students to be completely different. The Yale students were from a well-funded, well-known university with a large physics department, while we came from a small state school with limited resources. But when we began discussing the first question, “How would you describe the current atmosphere in your chapter or department?,” the similarities surprised us.
SUNY New Paltz is small, supportive, and close-knit. Professors form strong relationships with their students. Research opportunities tend to be informal and accessible. The Yale students also had a strong community with motivated students eager to do research. But they felt more distant from the faculty. We discovered that all of us wanted stronger connections and a more collaborative atmosphere.
When asked, “What are the biggest issues facing physics and astronomy majors today?,” our table immediately agreed: the rise of anti-intellectualism. We talked about how skepticism toward science has risen in the public sphere, making it harder for people to trust experts, be curious, and value critical thinking. Misinformation spreads quickly, while outreach can’t keep up. This cultural shift affects funding, science communication, and public support.
Eventually we rotated to new tables, and I was joined by students from other small departments across the country. We bonded over familiar struggles: limited course offerings and small faculties. Together, we reflected on the question, “How do we get people excited about physics?” We agreed that excitement would come from making people feel welcome, interested, and included.
I left the workshop feeling more grounded as a scientist and more connected to the broader physics community. Hearing students from such different institutions speak passionately about the same issues was a reminder that no matter the size or resources of our departments, we’re all working toward the same goal of making science accessible and welcoming. That shared purpose is what I carried with me long after I left the room.
